AUTHOR GUIDE

The complete details of our publishing process can be found in this guide. The full text is available here. You can browse the chapters and sections using the menu on your right (or below, for mobile devices).

DESCRIPTION

Text here will feed through to public databases and our website. If referring to yourself, write in the third person.

This is often referred to as "Blurb", and is a sales pitch for the book. It comes in two parts. You tell us about your book in the Description box; later we edit this in the Edited Description box, and this text feeds through to Amazon, retail, wholesale and library databases, our website, all marketing materials and the back cover of your book.

You can change it at any time up till when your final manuscript is uploaded to the Production page.

The longer text here will be used by editors, designers, publicists and sales. Too few sentences, however dynamic, and there will not be enough to work on. Too many dilutes the message. So the limit is 175 words.

Tips

Include the "keywords" that your readers and search engines will use to find a book like yours. Try them out on Google and Amazon and see if competing titles come up. More below in Chapter 3 under Market Position.

Focus on how the reader will be drawn into reading the book. What is interesting about you or your book?

Avoid jargon, obscure words or overly technical terms.

Don't exaggerate, don't use hyperbole.

Be down to earth, be honest, write clearly. Talk as if to a lay friend/colleague, who is not an expert in your field, explaining why they should read your book.

Include any highlights – a few words from an endorsement by someone prominent, or anything shortlisted for a good prize, a strong review in a trade magazine, a high ranking on Amazon etc.